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Re: 'the States'? /The US/ United States/ USA/ America.....

If 'the States' is capitalized like that, it probably means the United States of America (USA). However, you might watch for contextual clues: it might refer to a different group of states. "The United States of America" is the proper full name of the country. Sometimes we shorten it to "the United States" or the US, with the assumption that there's no "United States of Africa" that we need to be distinguished from. Often citizens of the United States refer to their country as America and themselves as Americans, however this is a bit deceptive since America is actually the entire continent, and anyone born from Canada to Argentina could call themselves Americans and be technically correct. Some people see this America=US language as an indicator of 'American' self-centeredness, but there's really not a good way to claim US nationality without the it. ("I am a/an... USian?") Usually when people want to indicate the continental designation, they will refer to themselves as North Americans or Latin Americans to clarify their meaning. In some non-English speaking countries, "America" is understood as the country, and "the United States" just doesn't ring a bell.

Most people may not be able to give the full name for 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland', but they will say the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain for short (though given the full name I'm guessing Britain is technically the name of the island which is not Ireland). England is really only one piece of the United Kingdom, which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, depending on context and where you are, people who are not from the UK may use 'England' and 'Britain' interchangeably, due to ignorance.

Re: 'the States'? /The US/ United States/ USA/ America.....

thanks. Since there are two many of terms, I was somehow getting confused regarding when I should use each and HOW MUCH it is important to think about this differences while referring to these countries and names. I am guessing now that the major differences is geographical?

Re: 'the States'? /The US/ United States/ USA/ America.....

You can use any of these and not worry at all about a difference:
the US
the United States
the USA
the United State of America
the States
America

Yes, if she is going to Brazil, she is technically going to "America" but I think most people would assume you meant the US if you said "America" in that sentence.

As for me, as a native, I would reply with something like "Has she visited the US before?" or "Is this her first trip to the States?"

I very rarely say "The USA" and there have been very few times in my life that I have said "The United States of America." While I refer to myself as "an American" I rarely refer to the country that way as a travel destination because of the sensitivity that there are many other countries in the Americas (North and South).

Re: 'the States'? /The US/ United States/ USA/ America.....

As for me, as a native, I would reply with something like "Has she visited the US before?" or "Is this her first trip to the States?"

I very rarely say "The USA" and there have been very few times in my life that I have said "The United States of America." While I refer to myself as "an American" I rarely refer to the country that way as a travel destination because of the sensitivity that there are many other countries in the Americas (North and South).

This speaks for me as well, except for this: Living in China, I've learned that if I say "the States" or "the US", people often don't understand what I mean. I have to say "America" or use the Chinese word when people ask where I'm from. Sometimes you have to pay attention to the context and follow what other people are doing.